What is the future of wine? I don't know, in all honesty, but the new Winemaker Selection series from @walmart, of all places, may give an indication of a possible future. This is their 2017 Français Cabernet Franc. I bought this bottle for something like $10.30, after tax. The only real location information available is that this wine was produced "in the South of France [where] the sunny weather of the region combines with the influence of the Mediterranean Sea to offer an expressive, fruity, and spicy wine." (To me, this only suggests one place: somewhere in Languedoc-Roussillon. That, and this wine doesn't have the black pepper of Bordeaux or the graphite, black fruit, and leather of Chinon...) And you know what? For the price point, this wine is pretty dang good. I'm surprised. I probably would have paid at least twice as much for this wine, to be honest. It reminds me a lot of the warm climate Cabernet Franc vintages I'm more used to: those from the Willcox AVA. Yet, the Français 2017 has its own unique character, and furthermore, I definitely get a sense of place from this wine. It doesn't taste the same as a California copycat. The first impression I get from the nose of this wine is bright, almost explosive red fruits. Aromas of jammy cherry, pomegranite, and raspberry intermingle with cassis, violet, cedar, crushed granite, and bay leaf. It is a little lighter-bodied than I like, but that is to be expected for a warmer climate take on this varietal, and there's decent acidity and a healthy amout of woody, earthy tannins (let's say, medium tannins) to be found here. The palate is rich and bright, with notes of rasbperry and pomegranate jam, cherry, fresh plum, and lavender, meshing with those tannins and crushed gravel on a surprisingly lingering juicy finish. The 2017 Français Cabernet Franc is not too full bodied to enjoy on a warm day in late spring. It would pair well with savory pork dishes, or burgers (meat or vegetarian) on the grill. In short, this wine is really quite good for the price point, and I'm astonished. #cheapwine #walmart #walmartwine #cabernetfranc #winemakerseries #frenchwine #wine #redwine #winereviews #wineporn (at Jerome, Arizona) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAWKpiZHO-t/?igshid=185znldtcivpg
